Dilma
Rousseff impeachment: what happens next in Brazil
The
lower house of congress has voted to impeach the Brazilian president,
but the saga is far from over
Jonathan
Watts Latin America correspondent
Monday 18 April 2016
02.34 BST
Impeachment: step
by step
Brazilian President
Dilma Rousseff is fighting for political survival. The lower house
has voted to send the motion to remove her from power to the senate.
But several hurdles lie ahead. Here’s how the coming months will
unfold.
The upper house must
decide whether to accept the impeachment motion within ten sessions.
If a simple majority (41 of the 81 Senators) approves, which is
likely, Rousseff must step aside for 180 days while the charges
against her are investigated in committee. During this time, she
remains in the presidential residence, but her vice president Michel
Temer assumes power on an interim basis.
Within 180 days
A full plenary of
the senate, presided over by the chief justice, will sit in judgment
on Rousseff. If two-thirds approve, which is uncertain, she will be
ejected from office and Temer will be president until the next
election in 2018.
Wild Cards
The process can be
challenged at any time in the Supreme Court, though so far they have
shown little inclination to protect the president.
Temer could also be
removed from office as he too faces an impeachment process. This is
unlikely to succeed given his strong support in the lower house, but
if it does, Eduardo Cunha, the head of the lower house of congress,
would become president.
Some politicians are
also calling for early elections if Rousseff is impeached. This would
require new legislation and perhaps a revision of the Constitution,
which is problematic.
The Electoral Court
is investigating alleged campaign financing violations in the 2014
election. If they find evidence of wrongdoing, they can invalidate
the result, which would mean both Rousseff and Temer would be
stripped of their posts and a new election would be called.
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